Foot pedal operated shovel toy



. pt. 19, 1950 A. s. BYRNE 2,523,093

FOOT PEDAL OPERATED SHOVEL TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1947 I N V EN TOR. Ava-r1: 5. Evans pt- 19, 1950 A. s. BYRNE 2,523,093

FOOT PEDAL OPERATED SHOVEL TOY Filed April 21, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

/ Ausmu 5. Evan:

initial starting position to pick up another bucket Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES FAT'ENT QFFICE p p 2,523,093 t FOOT PEDAL OPERATED snovEL TOY Austin S. Byrne, Freeport, N. Y. Application April 21, 1947, Serial p. 742,877

3 Claims. (01. 214-432) This invention relates to toys and more par-iii.-

his feet and hands and which is particularly ili.

adapted for use in playing in a sand pile wherein all of the operations necessary for effecting a lifting and digging of sand material with a mechaiii'cal derrick can be effected by hand by the chiidwhen playing with the same. i".

It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated device for excavators of the type adapted to dig and lift sand or other loose material which can be operated in one direction to efiect the lifting of thelsucket and when-.1

operated in the opposite direction, will serve to release the hoisting chain extended over the lifting device so that the bucket can drop to the full of sand.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a sand pile toy of the mechanical type which is of simple construction, made of durable parts and not easily destroyed, and which will give considerable pleasure to a child in that both hands and feet are used in effecting the operation of this device.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the toy embodying the features of the present invention with the shovel extended to the down position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the toy.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on linev 3-3 of Fig. 2 lookingv in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. i is a perspective view of the shovel with the trap door in the open position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the trap door in the closed position. i I i Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken throughthe winch device on line 6--fi of Fig. 1 looking in'the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the winch.

device showing the friction disc with openings therein into which is extended a detent as a means for safety and to retain the friction disc while the shaft is threaded throughto engage the hoist .chain drum. 4 p

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line 8+5 of Fig. 7 showing the 'detent device for retaining the winch in the different positions, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. '7.

Referring now to the figures, it represents a base on which there is mounted a vertical support H with a seat I2 thereon adapted to be occupied by the child using the device. The support has two forward legs l3 between which is extended a winch device M to be described more in detail hereinafter.

0n the top of the support I l is a wear plate i5 on which is pivotally mounted a rotating carriage base IE formed of sheet metal and arranged to have parallel ends ii between which is pivoted a bell crank hand lever I8 having a handle l9 thereon. This lever has an upstanding arm 2| to which is connected a pair of links 22 having turned down forward ends 23 which are pivotally connected to a pivot block 2 4. The pivot block 24 is slidably positioned on a boom 25 pivotally connected at one end to the carriage l6 so that it can be moved up and down as the bell crank i8 is operated. Raising the bell crank l8 regulates the depth of digging and holds or forces the bucket into the material being handled. When the bell crank is up to its position of maximum height, the connecting links knuckle over and lock the boom 25 in its lowest position causing the bucket to fill when advanced through the material. Without this feature, the bucket has a tendency to lift and slide over the material without having filled the bucket.

Depending from the pivot block 24, there is pivotally connected a shovel arm 26 on the outer end of which there is fixed by means of bracket elements 27 a shovel bucket 28 formed of sheet metal and having an open end 29 and a bottom end 3| adapted to be closed by a trap door 32 which is retained in the closed position by a bolt or latch 33 engaging with an openings; of a strap 35 on the side of the shovel bucket. As the latch 33 is pulledgthe trap door will be released and the supply of material within the shovel bucket will drop out of the bottom thereof in the usual manner. A rope 3'5 is extended over a pulley 38 on the pivot block 2 and is tied to a hook 39 on the carriage it where it will be accessible to the child operating the toy.

The shovel bucket has a pulley wheel 4| thereon the boom and thus rearwardly through the legs [3 of the support If for connection to the winch device M. As the winch device is operated, the shovel bucket will be raised to pick up a load of sand. Thereafter this load can be turned to any position within 180 by the bell crank arm I8 and the boom 25 also can be raised by thi same bell crank lever so as to properly position the shovel bucket to the place of disposal of the sand.

Preferably the chain 42 is extended into the rotating carriage base Hi and downwardly through an opening 45 within a sleeve 46 which serves to pivotally connect the rotating carriage base to the plate IS. A spring 45a. is connected between the shovel arm 26 and the boom 25 and will tend to retain the shovel in the lowered initial digging position and place a tension upon the hoisting chain 62. This spring pulls the bucket arm back past the center of the pivot thus placing." it: in the most advantageous position to start filling the bucket.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6, '7. and 8, a detail description will be made of the winch device; This winch device is adapted to be operated by pedal cranks 48 and 49 which can be reached by the childs feet so that the same can be turneds-to cause the chain 42 to be rolled up upon the same and to cause the lifting of the shovel bucket. However, this winch device is constructed so that upon reverse turning movement of the pedal crank the chain drum 68 will be automatically released: and the shovel will quickly drop to the down position, assisted by the tension spring, 55a. The end of the chain 42 is connected to. a loop 69 on the drum 68, as shown in Fig. 6.

winch device comprises a central shaft having a threaded portion 52 thereon and to the; opposite ends of which are connected the pedal: cranks: t8; and it. This shaft has a fixed collar Eli thereon against which reacts a, spring 5.4: to normally urge the shaft 5: to the left as viewed in Fig. 6. The shaft at the right side is journal-led in a bearing block 55 with which the spring 54% engages. This bearing block is fixed to a bracket arrangement 56 secured to one of the: legs. 33.. At the opposite side of the device, there is. provided: a two part bearing 51. This two; part bearing 5'! is connected by angle pieces 59 to the other of the legs 13.

Also on; the threaded portion 52 of the shaft 5| is an. internal threaded friction disc 6! having a radially extending flange forming a pawl ring 52 with holes 63 therein and circumferentially spaceda therearound adapted to engage a spring-pressed detent i2 slidably projected from a. suitablestationarily mounted casing iii.

Between the internal threaded friction disc 6| and the fixed= collar 53' is disposed a chain, drum 68 to which the hoist chain is anchored by a fastening screw 59.

Uponrotating the shaft 5] in the forwarder hoisting direction, with the internal threaded friction disc 6 being retainedby the detent '52, the shaft: 5i and fixed collar 53 will thread forward -throug-h the friction disc 8i thereby causing the hoisting chain drum 68 to be retained tightly between the fixed collar 53 and the friction disc 61-. When this retaining effort exceeds the pressure of the detent on flange 82, then the friction disc 6t, shaft 5! and chain drum 63 will rotate as a unit winding the hoisting chain 42 on the chain drum 68, thereby causing the bucket to be lifted.

A1S0on the bearing 51' there is secured the detent casing H which is adjustable toward or away from the pawl ring on flange 62 of the internal threaded friction disc 6| to present a detent extension to the openings 63 whereby to hold the friction disc 6! while the threaded portion 52 of shaft Si is threaded through it to retain or release the drum 68. The pawl is beveled so as to release the friction disc 6| on the forward rotation and also to present a positive stop on the friction disc 6! in the reverse rotation to release the chain drum 68.

This detent device is threaded so that it can be adjusted to the proper position for engagement with the pawl ring on flange 62.

Upon a slight reverse rotation of shaft by the pedal cranks,- the same with fixed collar 53 will unthread through and away from the friction disc 61 which is locked against turning by the detent 12, thus releasing drum 68 and allowing it: to rotate freely on shaft 5 i, whereby the hoisting chain 42 is: unwound off the drum by the weight of the bucket returning to the down position assisted by the spring 46.

The release action to lower the bucket is obtained bya slight reverse rotation of the pedals. In this release action, the detent i2 acts as a positive step on the threaded friction disc Bi thus retaining it while the threaded part 52 of the shaft 54 unthreads through it, thereby releasing the drum 68 which was held tightly between this friction disc 6! and. the fixed collar 53 on the shaft 5 during the hoisting operation. Drum 68. is now free to rotate on the shaft 51' thereby allowing the hoisting chain to unwind from the drum as the bucket descends to its starting position.

The detent l2 acts as an additional safety feature in that it retains the winch. in any position thus: preventing the pedals from rotating. backwards in the event the child removes his feet from the pedals while the bucket is suspended.

By pedaling forward again after finishing this releasing action, the winch device will act as a brake and stop the bucket in any position, then further forward pedaling will engage the hoisting; drums tightly thereby raising the bucket.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a toy; for use by children which will cause the arms and legs to be coordinated while playing with the device and whereby the child will: be instructed in, the various operations of a derrick.

While I have illustrated and described the prefEI'IEdJ, embodiment" of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A childs toy in the form of a mechanical shovel comprising a base, an upstanding support on the base, a rotating carriage base mounted on the support for lateral swinging movement, a boom on the rotating carriage base, a pivot block on the boom, a shovel bucket arm, with a shovelbucket thereon, extending downwardly from the boom and the shovel bucket arm being pivotally connected to the pivot block, a chain operatively connected to the shovel bucket and extended upwardly to the end of the boom and rearwardly along the length of the boom, a foot operated pedal crank device having a winch conheated with the chain to effect the lifting of the shovel bucket as the pedal cranks are rotated forwardly, said pedal device further including a detent device for retaining the winch and the shovel bucket in any one of the positions to which they have been operated in one direction, said Winch device including friction elements adapted to be brought automatically into tight engagement with one another as the pedals are operated to raise the shovel bucket and adapted to be automatically released to release the winch and the shovel bucket when the device is rotated in the opposite direction.

2. A childs toy in the form of a mechanical shovelcomprising a, base, an upstanding support, on the base, a rotating carriage base mounted on the support for lateral swinging movement, a, boom on the rotating carriage base,

a pivot block on the boom, a shovel bucket arm,

with a shovelbucket thereon, extending downwardly from the boom and the shovel bucket arm being pivotally connected to the pivot block, a chain operatively connected tothe shovel bucket and extended upwardly to the end of the boom and rearwardly along the length of the boom, a

foot operated pedal crank device connected with the chain toeffect the lifting of the shovel bucket as the pedal cranks are rotated, said rotating carriage base being formed of strap material and having parallel upstanding end portions, bell crank pivoted between the end porahead of the seat whereby it can be reached with the childs feet, and said bell crank lever having a handleportion extending rearwardly to be accessible to the child when seated on the seat.

3. A childs toy in the form of a mechanical 6 I shovel comprising a base, an upstanding support on the base, a rotating carriage base mounted on the support for lateral swinging movement, a boom on the rotating carriage base, a pivot block on the boom, a shovel bucket arm, with a shovel bucket, thereon extending downwardly from the boom and the shovel bucket arm being pivotally connected to the pivot block, a chain operatively connected to the shovel bucket and extended upwardly to the end of the boom and rearwardly along the length of the boom, a foot operated pedal crank device connected with the chain to effect the lifting of the shovel bucket as the pedal cranks are rotated, said rotating carriage base being formed of strap material and having parallel upstanding end portions, a bell crank pivoted between the end portions, and links connected. between one arm of the bell crank and the pivot block on the boom whereby upon raising and lowering the bell crank lever the boom can be raised and lowered, said bell crank lever also serving as handle means by which the rotating carriage base can be rotated laterally on advanced through the material.

AUSTIN S. BYRNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,573,203 Stroh-acker Feb. 16, 1926 1,792,851 Marx Feb. 17, 1931 1,827,541 Opperman Oct. 13, 1931 1,929,516 Redmond Oct. 10, 1933 1,931,734 Levy Oct. 24, 1933 2,192,807 Strom March 5, 1940 2,247,619 Penica ..l l July 1, 1941 

